Remotely Handling Exceptions Through STAF

• US 20080288924A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McAllister, Cameron J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites

Abstract

An apparatus for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment. A child test framework is provided to catch an exception thrown by the child test program. In addition, a marshalling component is provided in communication with the child test program and the child test framework. The marshalling component converts exception data for the exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment, comprising:

a child test framework operable to catch an exception thrown by said child test program;

a marshalling component operable in communication with said child test program and said child test framework to convert exception data for said exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework; and

an exception return component operable to communicate to the parent test to identify a cause of failure in the child test program.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first parent test framework component operable to receive said converted exception data from said communication means;

a second parent test framework component operable to convert said exception data back from said format for transmission; and

an exception return component to return said converted exception data for processing by said parent test.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the child test framework and the parent test framework comprise a modified software testing automation framework (STAF).

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said parent test program and said child test program form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of tests, and wherein said child test framework and said parent test framework form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of test frameworks.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said parent test program is operable to invoke said child test program in synchronous mode.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said communication means is operable to communicate using a standard error output stream, and wherein said communication means inserts said exception data and a delimiter into said standard error output stream.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said delimiter comprises an indication that exception data relates to a child test program of a determined parent test.

8. A method for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment, comprising:

catching, by a child test framework, an exception thrown by said child test program;

converting, by a marshalling component operable in communication with said child test program and said child test framework, exception data for said exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework; and

returning exception data to the parent test for identifying a cause of failure in the child test program.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, by a first parent test framework component, said converted exception data from said communication means;

converting, by a second parent test framework component, said exception data back from said format for transmission; and

returning said converted exception data for processing by said parent test.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said parent test program and said child test program form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of tests, and wherein said child test framework and said parent test framework form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of test frameworks.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said parent test program invokes said child test program in synchronous mode.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said communication means communicates using a standard error output stream and inserts said exception data and a marker into said standard error output stream.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said marker comprises an indication that exception data relates to a child test program of a determined parent test.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said communication means communicates using a standard error output stream and inserts said exception data and a marker into said standard error output stream.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said marker comprises an indication that exception data relates to a child test program of a determined parent test.

14. A computer program comprising computer program code to, when loaded into a computer system and executed thereon, cause said computer system to perform instructions for communicating between a child test program and a parent test program in a test environment, the instructions comprising:

instructions to catch, by a child test framework, an exception thrown by said child test program;

instructions to convert, by a marshalling component operable in communication with said child test program and said child test framework, exception data for said exception into a format for transmission by a communication means to a parent test framework; and

an exception return component operable to communicate to the parent test to identify a cause of failure in the child test program.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:

instructions to receive, by a first parent test framework component, said converted exception data from said communication means;

instructions to convert, by a second parent test framework component, said exception data back from said format for transmission; and

instructions to return said converted exception data for processing by said parent test.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said parent test program and said child test program form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of tests, and wherein said child test framework and said parent test framework form a portion of a hierarchy of a plurality of test frameworks.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said parent test program invokes said child test program in synchronous mode.